February is Black History Month, and BtB is celebrating by recognizing the fantastic work our students have done reflecting on Civil Rights, desegregation, and freedom.

This week, we’re excited to feature the work of Ms. Johnson’s 4th grade class from C.S. 21 in Bed-Stuy. Break Out! is a collection of poems and art by the students under the guidance of author Doreen Rappaport. Doreen’s stories focus on biography and African-American history, including No More! Stories and Songs and Slave Resistance and Escape from Slavery, copies of which were given to the students at the start of the program; students then set out researching and writing biographical poems. Some examples of the beautiful results can be found below, and the entire book can be accessed here.